77 Comments
User's avatar
Lenae Bulthuis's avatar

So helpful! And I read your Substack every week. Thank you, Dan!

Dan Blank's avatar

I so appreciate that Lenae!

Dawn Downey's avatar

I love decluttering shows! I did a major substack declutter down after my first few months here. My second paring I unsubscribed from news-based newsletters. Two in particular that I absolutely loved, but news/politics/current events became too triggering. My most recent decluttering was based entirely on how I reacted when the newsletter showed up in my email. Some newsletters got an Oh boy,oh boy, so and so posted! If they didn't pass the oh boy! test, I unsubscribed. I felt really guilty, but now I'm down to about 10. And I'm excited to support all 10.

Dan Blank's avatar

That’s amazing! Thank you Dawn.

Christine Van Zandt's avatar

On the to-do list: Clean Sweep of our teen's room. Shovels optional ;)

Dan Blank's avatar

Ha! Good luck Christine!

Janet Johnson's avatar

Loved this, Dan! I saw a similar suggestion about deleting a piece of writing and then retyping it from Oliver Burkeman via Bec Evans’ newsletter. Tremendously helpful.

Dan Blank's avatar

Thanks Janet!

Anne H Putnam's avatar

This is a brilliant solution to a problem I've been struggling with for the past couple of years. Thank you!

Dan Blank's avatar

Thank you Anne!

Anara Guard's avatar

Thanks for this helpful approach.

Dan Blank's avatar

Glad it resonates with you Anara!

Robyn Everingham's avatar

Love this advice. Scared to do a clean sweep but I have changed so much since I started on SS 5 years ago that it is time. Wish me luck.

Dan Blank's avatar

Good luck Robyn!

book inc's avatar

Thanks for these Dan! Your posts always come at the best times.

Dan Blank's avatar

Thanks!

Phoebe Farag Mikhail's avatar

Thank you for this advice - it is very timely for me. I plan on doing the weekly check-in you suggest, and actively make comments on the newsletters I follow that resonate with me.

Dan Blank's avatar

Thank you Phoebe!

Amie Elizabeth White's avatar

Loved this — thank you!

(Seriously though, very good & brilliant to remind people it's ok to ebb, flow and restart when needed)

Dan Blank's avatar

Thank you so much Amie!

Diane Wahn Shotton's avatar

Thanks Dan! Your advice came at the right moment when my email was full of stuff I skim and never read. I hope all the folks I unsubscribed from are ok with losing me! LOL

Dan Blank's avatar

Thank you Diane!

Kathryn Barbash, PsyD's avatar

Dan, this is very much what I need right now. Thank you!

Dan Blank's avatar

Yay! Thanks Kathryn.

Suzanne M. Cruz's avatar

I read it and contemplated what you said… I will add this, it seems that many folks on Substack that are bringing in the bucks are folks who are selling, “how to make money on Substack” or “ politics” for folks who simply write funny the Erma Bombeck’s of the world… it’s a much harder ceiling to break through. So advice on that would be much appreciated!

Best

Dan Blank's avatar

Thank you Suzanne. Yes, it’s often easier for people to get attention on specific topics that people actively search out. Which is why it’s fun to spend time just browsing through the “Explore” tab here on Substack and look at different categories, or even the bestseller lists for them. To realize there may be popular Substacks on topics that fall outside what the algorithm is giving you. Big topic!

Anna Davidson's avatar

The show is ‘sort your life out’ in the UK; new seasons are still airing - it’s very popular!

I can’t figure out how to only see the publications I actually subscribe to in the Substack app. I never read them because I can’t find them hidden among everything else. You’ve inspired me to have another try.

Dan Blank's avatar

Thank you for letting me know Anna!

Tim Suddeth's avatar

Hi Dan. These are great suggestions. It is easy to get overwhelmed by all the good and interesting writers on Substack. Thanks for showing how to renew our happy place.

Thanks for your work.

Tim Suddeth

Dan Blank's avatar

Thank you Tim!

Mark Jacobs's avatar

I love Substack but I get the suggestions to clean up the feed.

Dan Blank's avatar

Thanks Mark!